Spiritual Disciplines
“The spiritual disciplines are those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are habits of devotion, habits of experiential Christianity that have been practiced by God’s people since biblical times.”
Whitney
Watch the 3 minute video below.
3.1 - How would you rate yourself as spiritually disciplined from 1 Low to 10 High? Explain?
I would give myself a 7. I feel I have some intimacy with God with the faith He has given me and enjoy practicing spiritual disciplines. I have so much room to grow in spending time daily for the sole purpose of growing my relationship with God.
3.2 - Write about someone in your life that has been a good example of someone who practices spiritual disciplines. Why were they a good example, and how did this affect their everyday life?
Dan Butts was a great example for me. I believed his regular time in the Word and prayer helped him live with longevity in Hungary as a missionary. I never felt he was bragging or conceited by his disciplined live but was more humble.
3.3 - What were the reasons, causes, or context going on in your life when you have been the most disciplined in spiritual disciplines?
In my 20's I was a sponge for personal study and prayer. I think it was the newness of growing in God in community, learning so many things about God, and was being drawn to him through worship and ministry.
Read the passages below a couple of times and answer the following questions.
John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
3.4 - What are your initial thoughts as you read these passages?
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit
Jesus is the source for life. Source for my life and the lives of others
6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
There is no middle ground. If you are not connected to the source then you will be punished.
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
This is blessing and gifts given to the abiders. We are proven by our abiding. God is glorified and there will be fruit in our lives.
Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
By keeping God's commandments is a way that we abide in His love. Jesus wants us to have a joy filled satisfied life! Jesus was our perfect example.
3.5 - List all the positive reasons why one should abide in Jesus from this passage.
God's Joy in us, Connected to the Father/Abide with Jesus, Answered prayers, God's glory, Proven Disciple of Jesus, confidence, pruning is good for us and makes us healthier, saved from the fire, doing something of true and eternal spiritual impact value, we are chosen, we friends, We know God's word, fruit of loving one another and have community.
We are holy, under the righteous covering of Jesus, but we are also commanded to seek holiness and godliness. The purpose of being spiritually disciplined is to increase our intimacy with and dependency on Jesus. There are many lists of Spiritual Disciplines that people have come up with. We are going to use this list of 5 spiritual disciplines that specifically develop one’s “abiding in Christ” and help us seek holiness. These are fertilizer for the roots of one’s personal relationship with Jesus.
It is a conversation: talking with and listening to God. Prayer displays our dependence on a powerful and loving Father. Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:5-15 in the Lord’s Prayer. He tells us to have a humble heart and even gives us a pattern: (ACTS) Adoration of God, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication/Stuff. The Bible teaches us to pray for our families, friends, leaders, and even our enemies. We should pray for many things: the salvation of the lost, healing, boldness in faith in word and deed, the return of Jesus, our church, and other churches just to name a few. Paul writes in Ephesians:
Ephesians 6:18-20 (NIV) 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
The Bible is God’s Story, His Story, History. It is God’s love letter to us, teaching and reminding us of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. God is the pursuer, and we are the rebel.
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible and has large sections devoted to the beauty of God’s Word and our need for it. We are to Read, Meditate, Memorize, Apply, Study, and Teach the Bible. (Session #4 is focused on studying and teaching the Bible)
Psalm 119:9-16
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes!
13 With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth.
14 In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
Psalm 119:105 Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
We need each other. The church is a community of believers and not an individual. We are made to love, care, serve, support, encourage, rebuke, and forgive one another.
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Everything is God’s. Our Time, Talents, and Treasure need to be understood in that reality. When we give to God, it is an act of trust, worship, and faith that gives God glory as we grow in our dependence on Him. We are to give with humility, generously, and cheerfully.
2 Corinthians 9:5-8 (NIV) 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given. 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
We are to put on the armor of God to fight in spiritual warfare. We are to flee temptations, resist the Devil, set our minds on things above and not of this earth, and fear the Lord so as to turn away from evil.
1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
3.6 - Give yourself a score of 1-10 in each of the 5 spiritual disciplines above and explain your score.
Prayer
6 - I love to pray but have always struggled with setting aside time each day to pray. I will pray before and after things. I will pray when I hear of hard things going on. I will pray on retreats. Right now I am trying to Pray the Lord's Prayer each day.
Bible Study
7 - I am enjoying studying and teaching. I have not recently studied just to personally learn. This is an area I would like to grow in.
Fellowship
8 - I fell I am naturally bent to be with people. I enjoy meeting new people. An area I can grow in is spending time with people that are different than me and will take a little more work.
Stewardship
8 - I am doing ok at this. The area I need growth in is my time. I have recently been wanting some "personal" time and need to figure out how much is good and how much is selfish.
Fighting Sin
I have been fighting and winning some. I want to be consistent with my words and tone and heart in my family. I am trying to talk to Jesus often about my awareness of sin and that He keeps reminding me I need help.
3.7 - Imagine for a second that you were a 10 in each discipline above, what would your relationship with Jesus look like?
Oh my. I would be able to walk in the spirit in a new way and while abiding in Him, I would know more of His will and feel confident in my next steps.
3.8 - Choose at least 2 disciplines above and write down some growth action steps that you will take for yourself in the next 2 weeks.
Discipline 1 and Action Steps
Prayer - I want to keep praying the Lords Prayer everyday. I would like to wake up and center my day on Jesus and ask Him what He wants me to do each day. At the end of the day, I would like to talk to God and thank Him for all that he has done throughout the day.
Discipline 2 and Action Steps
Fighting Sin - I want to take my thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. I want to care before I defend. I want to be slow to speak and quick to listen. I want to lean into love and not retreat and judge.
End this session by praying to God to help you take these steps above as you seek to abide in Him.
End Session #3
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